The Tracks — Madonna, 1983, Track 01
Lucky Star
Shine bright, all night.
At a Glance
Title
Lucky Star
Record
Madonna (1983) | Track 01
Single
Fifth US single | 8 August 1984 | UK 9 September 1983
Writers
Madonna
Producers
Reggie Lucas | John “Jellybean” Benitez (remix)
Video
Directed by Arthur Pierson
Chart peaks
US No. 4 | UK No. 14
A song written for the DJ who discovered her — and the record that first put Madonna in the American top five.
The Song
Madonna wrote “Lucky Star” as a thank-you to Mark Kamins, the Danceteria DJ who had championed her demo. Reggie Lucas produced it, and Jellybean Benitez later remixed it, adding the guitar riffs and extra vocals that gave it its glow.
Opening the album, it sets out everything the record is about: bright synths, a pulse built for the dance floor and a voice full of confidence.
The Video
Arthur Pierson shot the video against a plain white backdrop: Madonna and two dancers, black lace, crucifixes and bangles — the downtown look that would soon be copied everywhere.
The Charts
Released as the fifth US single in August 1984, it reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 — her first top five hit in America.
LISTEN NEXT
Keep listening — headphones on, lights low.
